Chair, brolly used in bikie cafe brawl
AN alleged Mongols bikie gang leader accused of using a cafe chair and umbrella in a brawl with a rival motorcycle gang in a Gold Coast shopping centre has been granted bail.
Police allege the brawl between Tyrone Wilton Norman Poole and three members of the Finks raged through Australia Fair Shopping Centre about 4.30pm on Monday.
The fight comes amid rising tensions between the Mongols and the Finks, police allege.
Poole appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he faces charges of affray and possessing dangerous drugs.
Police allege Poole is a confirmed national level office bearer of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang.
Magistrate Pam Dowse granted Poole bail on strict conditions, including that he not attend any shopping centre between Loganlea and Coolangatta, abide by a curfew and stay at a Labrador address.
The court was told Poole and the three Finks walked past each other in the “Metro” part of the shopping centre and words were exchanged.
It was then the fight broke out. It was captured on CCTV and lasted about three minutes and 10 seconds.
Magistrate Dowse said the police objection to bail alleged that Poole had the opportunity to disengage from the fight but instead “launched attack after attack”.
The court was told Poole used a cafe chair “as a weapon to beat a rival gang member”.
It is alleged Poole also used an umbrella he grabbed outside of the Choice discount shop in the attack.
Police also allege Poole is not regularly employed but lives a lifestyle above his financial means.
Police arrested Poole at his Labrador home on Tuesday afternoon. They allegedly also found testosterone and steroids.
Magistrate Dowse asked Poole’s lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, what he had to say about the allegations of rising tensions between the Mongols and Finks.
“I imagine there is rising tensions between those three men and my client,” he said.
Mr Gatenby said Poole was attacked by the three men.
“It is an unplanned assault on my client in circumstances where he is walking through the shopping centre,” he said. “It is not a circumstance where he has called for back up.”
The matter will return to court on July 6.